Shloka 12
दमयन्ती-शपथः वायोः साक्ष्यं च
Damayantī’s Oath and Vāyu’s Testimony
ते तेनावेक्षिता: कुम्भा: पूर्णा एवाभवंस्तत: । ततः प्रक्षालनं कृत्वा समधिश्रित्य बाहुक:,परंतु बाहुकके देखते ही वे सारे घड़े पानीसे भर गये। उससे खाद्य पदार्थोंकी धोकर बाहुकने चूल्हेपर चढ़ा दिया। फिर एक मुद्ठी तिनका लेकर सूर्यकी किरणोंसे ही उसे उद्दीप्त किया। फिर तो देखते-ही-देखते सहसा उसमें आग प्रज्वलित हो गयी
te tenāvekṣitāḥ kumbhāḥ pūrṇā evābhavaṃs tataḥ | tataḥ prakṣālanaṃ kṛtvā samadhiśritya bāhukaḥ |
Bṛhadaśva said: As soon as he looked upon them, those water-jars at once became completely filled. Then, having washed the provisions, Bāhuka set them properly upon the hearth. (By his skill and disciplined effort, the work of cooking was swiftly brought under control, as if aided by an unseen power.)
बृहृदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in hardship and concealment, disciplined skill and dutiful service (dharma in action) can draw timely support—suggesting that right conduct and competence together sustain life and community.
Bāhuka (Nala in disguise) begins cooking: the jars become full when he looks at them, and he proceeds to wash the food and set it on the hearth, indicating extraordinary capability and an almost miraculous efficiency.